 |
 |
|
Olympic Aid Program Pays Off In Thailand
During the Olympics, Utahns helped raise millions of dollars for the humanitarian group, Olympic Aid. Now Utah students are going to put some of that money to use.
|
(Dec. 7, 2002)------During the Olympics, Utahns helped raise millions of dollars for the humanitarian group, Olympic
Aid. Now Utah students are going to put some of that money to use. News Specialist Sammy
Linebaugh recently returned from Thailand, where she checked out an Olympic Aid camp.
I packed along a mini-camera and brought back footage of the kind of humanitarian work the
Utah students will be doing. The children you are about to see are some of Thailand's so-called
slum kids. The video may show a smudge on your screen. I'm still a photographer-in-training.
Soccer is for boys. Or it was. At this center for children in Pattaya, Thailand, Olympic Aid
coaches teach sport and exercise is for, well, everyone. And this crew of five-year-olds is
catching on fast.
Hollie Woodruff/Volunteer: THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO WORK TOGETHER,
THEY'RE LEARNING TEAMWORK.
WE HAVE CERTAIN GAMES THAT ENCOMPASS THE MIND RING, WHICH IS
HOW TO THINK, THE BLACK RING IS THE BODY, WHICH IS THE MUSCLES, THE
BONES, STRENGTH.
Olympic Aid Coach Jazz Mathon is on a six month assignment to provide dozens of Thailand's
poorest children a chance at organized play. This coming spring, students from the University of
Utah will do similar work in other third world communities.
Ted Wilson/Hinckley Institute of Politics: NOT ONLY WILL THEY BE COACHING KIDS
AND TEACHING THEM TO PLAY, SAY SOCCER, THEY'LL BE USING THAT AS A
WAY OF ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY AND THINGS LIKE VACCINATIONS,
HEALTHCARE, DIGGING WELLS, MAKING A COMMUNITY IN THESE THIRD
WORLD NATIONS STRONGER.
Olympic Aid coaches are now in 18 countries running sports camps and other games. The goal,
often, is simply to help children forget, move past the traumas of war, displacement and poverty.
Here in Thailand, basic comforts are a luxury for these kids.
Sister Joan Gormley: MOST OF THEIR PARENTS BY COLLECTING AND RESELLING
GARBAGE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, QUITE A NUMBER OF CHILDREN WOULD
NEVER GO TO SCHOOL.
Hollie Woodruff: MANY TIMES THE ONLY MEAL THEY HAVE IS THE MEAL THAT
THEY GET HERE AT THE CENTER.
Five days a week, dozens come to this Catholic mission for breakfast and lunch, to wash up and
receive healthcare.
Sammy Linebaugh / Eyewitness News: THIS IS THE WAY THE KIDS GET TO AND
FROM THE CENTER. A WAGON PICKS THEM UP ON THEIR STREET IN THE
MORNING, THEN BRINGS THEM BACK HOME IN THE AFTERNOON.
In addition to classwork, they now spend much of their time at the center getting schooled in
sports, strategy games, other activities aimed at building self-esteem. And fellow aid workers
say, it's working.
Sister Joan Gormley: JUST THE FACT OF GOING OUT AND EXERCISING EVERY
MORNING AND KNOWING WHAT TO DO, THEY'RE HAPPIER.
Coaches like Jazz say that's the payoff, and the reason Olympic Aid coaches around the world
say there's no place they'd rather be.
Ted Wilson: STUDENTS THESE DAYS SENSE THAT THIS CENTURY THAT WE'RE
NOW ENTERING IS GOING TO BE THE INTERNATIONAL CENTURY, AND THEY
NEED TO BE EDUCATED, PARTICULARLY IN THE THIRD WORLD.
The trip will be free for the Utah students chosen to go, paid for by Olympic Aid and proceeds
from the medals plaza tickets.
Adoption